Craggy Range, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels Sophia

Subtle notes of wild thyme and sage seamlessly blend with plum, fruit cake and brioche. The enticing mid-palate suppleness and sweetness lead to a delicious finish.

Producer Note

Established in 1998, Craggy Range is a family-owned winery situated in the shadows of the spectacular Te Mata Peak in Hawke’s Bay. With an unrelenting focus on quality, Craggy Range produces a collection of iconic wines from their estate vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, and Marlborough. When owners Terry and Mary Peabody first set out to start a winery, they looked down from Te Mata Peak onto the land where Craggy Range now stands, and they were clear that they wanted to create wines which truly evoked the unique landscapes and heritage of the region. Since then, Craggy Range has developed into an iconic New Zealand winery which has never lost sight of its sense of place, or its family ties. Heavily invested in social and environmental sustainability, they are certified by SWNZ and have created initiatives such as the Children’s Christmas Foundation.

Vineyard

Hawke's Bay's Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district lies on the ancient bed of the Ngaruroro River, which changed course in 1867 to expose the soils for possible viticulture. The relatively low altitude and proximity to the sea yet sheltered from the direct effect of the sea breeze, creates a temperate maritime climate. This location, altitude, and the stony soil's warming influence make it the warmest site in Hawke's Bay. The lack of excessive heat in the Gimblett Gravels is also a critical factor as it means the aromatic characters in the fruit, which contribute to the floral notes, are retained. The soils are composed of small to medium-sized greywacke stones interspersed with layers of silt and sand down to a depth of at least 40 metres. The stones on the surface absorb sunlight and heat during the day and then radiate heat at night, enhancing the vine's ripening capacity. The soils in this locality produce rich, ripe, yet elegantly structured red wines with a distinctive mineral, hot stone and fine dusty character, affectionately known as 'Gimblett Dust'.

Winemaking

The fruit for this wine was hand harvested, meticulously sorted and 100% de-stemmed. Fermentation took place in specific French oak vats, which are destined for this wine every year. Most of this wine was matured for 17 months in a special underground cellar where there is little to no movement, this spot is reserved especially for these French oak barriques. 33% of the barrels were new, adding an extra dimension of complexity.

Tasting Note

Subtle notes of wild thyme and sage seamlessly blend with plum, fruit cake and brioche. The enticing mid-palate suppleness and sweetness lead to a delicious finish.

Grape

Merlot 77%, Cabernet Franc 23%